The label system that saves time when everything speeds up
Label smarter before Q4 gets properly busy. This guide covers the five areas where good labelling saves the most time in a workplace or school: storage, filing, dispatch, assets and shared equipment. Each one has a short set-up list to tick off, plus the tools we recommend for the job.
Why set it up now
When it gets busy, unlabelled shelves cost time
When things are quiet, most teams know where everything lives. The spare toner is in the second cupboard, the archive boxes are in the back room and the loan laptop is with whoever had it last.
In Q4 that changes. Orders pick up, casual staff and temps start, end-of-year stocktakes come around and shared equipment moves between rooms and sites. Schools feel the same squeeze in the last term of the year.
Good labels answer the questions people would otherwise stop and ask. What is in here? Where does it go back? Who does it belong to?
October is the right time to set it up. The end-of-year rush is still a few weeks away, and a labelling system is much easier to put in place before everyone is flat out.
Label Smarter: the 5-area guide
Set it up once and keep it running
Work through each area and tick the steps as you go.
Prefer paper? Print this page (Ctrl + P or ⌘ + P) and only the guide will print.
Storage: shelves, tubs and cupboards
Stockrooms · stationery cupboards · classroomsLabels help people find things, and they also help things get put back. That second part is what keeps a storeroom tidy three months later.
Set it up
Label it with
A handheld label maker for shelf edges and tubs, plus removable labels for anything that rotates.
Shop: Plastic tubs & tote trays · Removable labels · Shelf label holders
Filing: binders, folders and archive boxes
Admin teams · finance · school officesWhen every spine follows the same format, anyone can find a file at a glance, including whoever covers your desk over the Christmas break.
Set it up
Label it with
Printable filing labels on A4 sheets for spines and tabs, and a label maker for quick one-offs.
Shop: Filing labels · Lateral file labels · Archive boxes
Dispatch: parcels, returns and outbound
Ecommerce · warehouses · school and office mailroomsThe packing bench is where small delays add up in peak season. Printed labels and clearly marked zones keep orders moving and cut down on mistakes.
Set it up
Label it with
A wide-format thermal label printer for 4 x 6 shipping labels, plus shipping tags and dot labels for sorting.
Shop: Dymo LabelWriter printers · Thermal labels · Shipping tags
Asset identification: IT, tools and AV
Facilities · IT · trades · schoolsStocktakes and end-of-year audits are much easier when every laptop, projector and power tool carries an ID that matches the register.
Set it up
Label it with
Heavy duty polyester labels for devices, and an industrial label maker for cables, panels and tools.
Shop: Heavy duty labels · Rhino label makers · Rhino labels
Shared equipment: rooms, kits and cables
Meeting rooms · staff kitchens · loan and training kitsShared equipment usually goes missing because it has no fixed home. A labelled spot and a simple sign-out sheet solve most of it.
Set it up
Label it with
A wall or door sign holder for the sign-out sheet, and a permanent marker kept with the kit.
Shop: Office sign holders · Permanent markers · Cable organisers
Before you order tape or labels, answer these four questions
- Machine: which model is it, and what tape or roll does it take?
- Size: how much text needs to fit, and how far away will it be read?
- Surface: is it paper, plastic, metal, fabric or a curved cable?
- Environment: will it be handled, wiped, chilled or kept outdoors?
Ticks are saved only on your screen while this page is open. Print it or screenshot it if you want to share it with the team.
Find the right labelling setup
The tools we recommend for each area
We have picked one or two dependable lines for each area, from the stockroom shelf to the packing bench. Each card links to the full product details.
Dymo LabelManager 160 Handheld Labeller Value Pack with D1 Tapes
A compact handheld with a full QWERTY keyboard and print preview. It prints on 6, 9 and 12mm D1 tape, and tape is included so you can start straight away.
Good for: shelf edges, tubs and folder labels.
View product
Visionchart Plastic Book Tub Large Blue
A large reading tub sized for A4 and A3 books, folders and classroom resources, measuring 290 x 300 x 195mm.
Label tip: put the label on the face that shows when the tub is on the shelf.
View product
Avery White Filing Labels 134 x 11mm Laser Inkjet Permanent 600 Labels
600 permanent white labels, 24 to an A4 sheet, for laser or inkjet printers. The long, narrow strip suits suspension file tabs.
Tip: set up one template and every new file matches.
View product
Dymo LabelWriter 5XL Starter Bundle with Printer and Shipping Labels
A wide-format direct thermal printer for 4 x 6 shipping labels, bundled with a roll of labels. Direct thermal means no ink or toner, with 300 x 300 dpi output.
Check first: the label size your courier or platform prints.
View product
Dymo Rhino 4200 Industrial Label Maker
A rugged handheld with a backlit display and six built-in label types, including cable wrap, patch panel and breaker box. Memory holds up to 9 labels.
Good for: cables, panels and tools on the job site.
View product
Avery Silver Heavy Duty Labels L6009 45.7 x 21.2mm 48UP 240 Labels
240 silver polyester labels for laser printers, 48 to an A4 sheet. Avery lists them for asset identification, with resistance to water, tearing, UV, heat, oil and dirt.
Tip: print asset IDs as a numbered series so the labels match the register.
View product
Durable Duraframe A4 Sign Holder with Adhesive Back Black
An adhesive-backed A4 frame for glass, walls and doors. The fold-back magnetic frame lets you swap the insert in seconds, in portrait or landscape.
Use it for: sign-out sheets and room instructions.
View product
Artline Supreme Permanent Marker Black Box 12
A box of 12 black permanent markers with a 1mm bullet nib, xylene free, for quick labels on tubs, kits and cartons.
Tip: keep one with every tub station, loan kit and packing bench.
View product
Label tapes and rolls for your machine
Tapes and label rolls are machine-specific. Start with the model on your label maker or printer, then match the width and colour.
Using Brother? See Brother labels, or send us the model.
Find your tapeOrder smarter
Three ways to keep ordering simple
Stick to one machine family
When every room uses the same label maker range, you stock fewer tape types and anyone can pick up a spare. It also makes reordering a one-line job.
Order refills with the machine
Add tape or label rolls to the same order as the labeller, so you are ready to go on day one. Free standard delivery applies to eligible orders over $149.95 to most ACT, NSW, QLD and VIC metro areas.*
Ask for a quote on volume
Setting up a whole school, several sites or a new warehouse? Use Add to Quote or Bulk Enquiry on the product page, or talk to our team.
*Bulky items, hardware, regional and remote deliveries are excluded. See shipping and delivery information for full details.
Helpful answers
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a label maker and a label printer?
A label maker, like the Dymo LabelManager or Rhino range, prints on narrow tape cassettes and is ideal for shelves, files, cables and equipment. A label printer, like the Dymo LabelWriter range, prints on rolls of pre-cut labels from a computer and suits addresses, shipping labels and batches of the same label.
Which labeller should a school or office start with?
For everyday shelves, tubs and folders, a handheld office labeller covers most jobs. If you label cables, panels or tools, look at an industrial model such as the Rhino range. If you send parcels, add a desktop label printer for shipping labels. Not sure? Tell us what you are labelling and our team will point you to the right fit.
Will labels peel off tubs and shelves?
It depends on the adhesive and the surface. Use removable labels or slide-in label holders where contents change often, and permanent or heavy duty labels for assets and anything that is handled a lot. Clean, dry surfaces give any label the best start.
How do I find the right tape or label roll?
Check the model number on your label maker or printer and the code on the tape or roll you are replacing. Tape width matters too. If you are unsure, send us the model and we will confirm the match.
Can we get pricing for a whole school or several sites?
Yes. Use Add to Quote or Bulk Enquiry on any product page to build a list, or contact our team with the items and quantities you need.
Before the Q4 rush
Set up your labelling system now, before Q4 gets busy
Agree your naming rule, work through the five areas and put the gaps into one order. If you are not sure which machine or label suits the job, contact our team and we will help you choose.
Mega Office Supplies helps Australian businesses and schools keep the everyday essentials covered, from our Tweed Heads team and our suppliers' warehouse network nationwide.
